Dark

A/N: Many Thanks to the AMAZING Racheal let me tell you folks is the coolest, bestest, most amazing beta reader I have ever had the pleasure to work with! I bow down in AWE!

Chapter 1

Minerva McGonagell was sitting in her quiet office enjoying a nice cup of tea when something out her window caught her attention. Several dark figures were gathered at the gates to Hogwarts, in this day and age dark cloaked figures were rarely seen during the day and never brought anything but trouble. She stood and grabbed her monocular off a nearby shelf and quickly raised them to her eyes. Of course her first thoughts were of Death Eaters but they would never be seen in public especially not at the gates to Dumbledore’s haven. A chill ran straight through her as she focused on the, she counted, ten, Dark Riders standing as still as statues staring directly back at her.

Dumbledore looked up as his fire crackled an eerie green and the face of his longtime companion popped up. Merlin, she looked terrified.

“Yes Minerva.”

“Albus, there are Black Riders at the gates.” her voice was even more panicked that her expression.

The only sign that Dumbledore showed was his eyes. The steely glint replaced his normal twinkle as he stood.

“Are you certain?”

“Yes.” came her almost breathless answer.

“How many?”

“Ten, sir!” she would later be ashamed to admit that her voice almost squeaked.

“Get Severus and meet me in the Great Hall. We must greet our visitors.”

“But Albus, Dark Riders are almost unheard of.”

“These are dark times Minerva and tradition demands that we meet them.”

“Albus, who?” the question he had hoped she would not ask.

“Who else, beloved,” he sighed. “Who else is the age they require with a connection to the Dark?”

“No Albus. We cannot let them take him. Harry means too much to the Wizarding world.”

“I’m afraid that is not our decision to make. Please, get Severus meet me in the Great Hall.” he waved his hand and dismissed the firecall. With a heavy sigh and a prayer to all the Gods he donned his formal headmaster robes and slowly made his way to the Great Hall of Hogwarts.

Chapter 2

Minerva ran through the halls of the school thanking Merlin and Morgana that they were cleared of children, but wishing they had more time. It was almost the end of classes for the day, only another half hour at the most. Above all she hoped they could deal with the Riders before the children knew of their visit. The tabby cat form she was currently sporting was ideal for running through the twisted passageways to the dungeons of the huge school. Finally her destination in sight she stopped and transformed back into the severe robes she normally wore.

When she knocked on the potions classroom door she nearly groaned as she remembered who exactly was in this class. Mr.'s Potter and Weasley and Ms. Granger. Just the students she did not want to know about any of this. If their curiosity's got peaked they wouldn't rest until they had found out exactly what was occurring.

Snape growled at his class, not that they didn't deserve it but something just beyond his wards was irritating him. When the knock finally came it was almost a relief not that he would ever show relief about anything in front of his Slytherin/Gryffindor class.

"Enter." he snarled.

Minerva, looking paler than he had seen her in years stood at the door. Her hands were shaking he noted almost worriedly to himself.

"Severus, the Headmaster requires your assistance."

The dread filled him quickly then, those words were almost never said. Something terrible must be happening, but what. Surely it had nothing to do with Voldemort, he would know, unless somehow the Dark Lord knew he was a spy.

"Granger, Malfoy. See that all of the potions are disposed of properly. Sit in your seats do not move, do not speak, leave only when the class time is over and go directly to your common rooms." he snapped his orders as he reached inside his desk and pulled out a globe, whispering to it quietly he then threw it into the air, where it stopped and hovered near the ceiling. "This is a recording globe. I will know if anything happens."

With a swirl of black robes he swept from the room silently but with obvious tension.

In the hallways the two teachers erected a small silencing bubble; it would not do for the portraits to gossip.

"What has happened?" he asked as he stalked through the dank dungeons.

"Dark Riders." her hands fluttered for a moment before settling on her chest just above her heart. "Ten of them, at the gates."

"Great Merlin protect us!" It was the most emotion besides anger that she had ever seen in the Potions Masters voice. "Did Albus say who he thought they were here for? Is it Malfoy?"

Her steps faltered almost unnoticeably, unless you were a spy. She had not even thought of the boy, they suspected Potter then. Of course he should have known it. But Malfoy was equally as likely a candidate for the Riders. His pace quickened with the thought.

The doors to the Great Hall were standing open as they neared they could feel Dumbledore preparing himself, gathering his magic to him so he would display the greater amount of power in the meeting about to occur. Finally he turned to them, they gasped at the display of power. Dumbledore stood straight, no longer hunched over with his many years. The lines on his face had all but disappeared and the steely glint was still present in his eyes.

Dumbledore sighed as he felt his power gather. These were his children, and by Merlin, no one was going to take them anywhere without his consent.

"Come, we go to meet the Dark Riders of the Chimaeras."

Chapter 3

Dumbledore walked calmly and sedately down the front steps and toward the large ornate gates that marked the main entrance to the school. His gait belied his tension. To look at the small group walking down the main path, one would never suspect they were on the finest of emotional edges.

The Headmaster walked in front, Minerva one step behind to his right and Severus two steps behind to his left. The significance of the formation was not lost on the members of the group. Minerva higher in rank but not in power than Severus, who was second in the line and place to the right of Albus. The side which needed less guarding as that was his wand hand side. And Severus similarly place so he could defend that side of the leader of their group. It was a familiar formation to the three. Many times they had stood together the only three to defend or deny a particular decision made within the Order.

The group stopped just before the gates, but did not open them. Dumbledore stepped forward and began to speak. It was his position as Headmaster at this school that was important here, the Order of Merlin (First Class), Chief Warlock, Supreme Mugwump, International Confederation of Wizards, the defeat of Grindelwald, and various other titles, none of that mattered to the beings before them.

"I am Headmaster here. I ask your business," his voice was firm, demanding answers.

Severus had a moment to study them dark figures before them. Black upon black. Depthless voids where faces should be. Legends say the Dark Riders where humans, but the figures before him looked more like Dementors. Of course appearances could be deceptive, he should know, the Death Eaters cloaks and hoods where chosen specifically to bring fear and anarchy to there victims. You could tell nothing about the Riders just by looking at them. The cloaks looked like they were made from the softest of silk, yet they hung straight, not flying about in the slight wind that had picked up. Boots, shin guards, and gauntlets all made from what could only be Black Dragon leather. He couldn't tell quite what materials made up the pants and shirts of the 'men' before them. Finally one stepped forward.

"I am here to offer the choice to Harry Potter," six others stepped into formation behind him.

Another came up to stand beside the first.

"I am here to offer the choice to Draco Malfoy," the last two came to stand behind him.

"Please bring them forward for the choice," the first Rider again obviously the leader.

"No. I will not," Dumbledore spoke firm even thought they all knew in the end he would have to bring the two students into the picture. This was now a test of strength, power, and will. A dark wind seemed to blow from the gates, pressing against the wards of the school.

Severus had witnessed many duels in his lifetime but one of this nature was rare. There were no hexes or curses. No words were spoken and no wands were drawn. It was truly a test of will. If it were not such an important occasion Severus would have laughed, after all why not just drop their trousers and get a measuring tape. It would have told just as much and been quicker. After the first few minutes he stopped paying attention, the outcome was a forgone conclusion. It would be a draw; Albus had little choice in the matter. The choice could only be made by the students themselves.

Albus reluctantly called for a draw, he could have gone on another few minutes but the safety of his students would be compromised if he continued.

"Draw. I must go. The students must not see you."

"I concur, Headmaster. We will return tomorrow, you will have the chosen. They will decide."

As one the Riders turned, all but the leader. They took a few steps and simply faded way. As soon as the last one faded from sight the leader spoke again.

"You will help them make an 'informed' decision."

When Albus nodded once the leader of the Dark Riders simply vanished. Albus stood still, staring off into space for a heartbeat or two before turning back to them. He sighed deeply and straightened his already tight posture.

"Come, classes will be out soon, and I would rather not have to hunt Mr.'s Malfoy and Potter down."

"They both should still be in the Potions lab, a moment and I will seal the doors." Severus concentrated on his wards for a moment and locked the doors to the potions lab.

"Very good Severus, bring them to my office at once. This is a most unfortunate and unforeseen event."

"Yes Headmaster," Severus inclined his head slightly.

As the group reached the doors to the Great Hall they parted ways. None of them looking forward to this night’s event.

Chapter 4

The Slytherin/Gryffindor class might be rivals but they both respected the tension in the air as their Professor left the room. Unbelievably no one said anything as they emptied their cauldrons and tidied their work stations. Hermione and Draco by some unspoken agreement kept any stray thought from becoming spoken, silencing, with just a look their own housemates.

Harry felt the ward tighten around them when Snape closed the door, but thought nothing more of it. This was not the first time Snape had left them alone for a few minutes. He pulled out his text book and started on the essay Snape had assigned yesterday. He had another week to finish it but why waste good study time. He hated doing this type of work in the common room; Ron would always interrupt him, asking why Harry was worried about doing well in 'That greasy gits class'. And how was he supposed to explain to Ron that after being stuck reading and rereading his cousins chemistry books this past summer he had become interested in the correlation between chemistry and alchemy and his potions classes. Not that his grade reflected his newfound interest. There really was no way that he could do well in this class as long as Snape was the teacher.

Several minutes went by and Harry was lost in potions theory's when he felt it. A shift in the wards, not only a shift but... He stiffened. His gaze shifted to the doors. Something...he stifled a small gasp, he was locked in. He looked around, trying to move only his eyes so as not to draw undue attention on himself. Had anyone else felt it? Only one other person was looking at the doors. Draco Malfoy, of course, he should have known. The blonds gaze shifted much like his had. First the eyes sought out anyone else who had noticed, and then the head moved. Their eyes met. Harry inclined his head. Draco cocked his brow. They both smirked, and stood.

They reached the door at the same time. Harry first reached out and tried to open the door. Locked.

"Well it was worth a try anyway." he whispered.

"Why did you even try? You felt it too." Draco snarled back softly.

"How stupid would you have felt if we had stood here trying to open it with magic if it was unlocked the whole time?" Harry replied.

Draco was curious, Potter did have a point, but why wasn't he snarling back? What was making the other boy so nervous? Sweat had broken out on the dark haired boy’s brow. His eyes were dilated and he was looking around the room, but his eyes never settled on anything. Draco watched as Potter turned back to the door and tried the handle again.

"Potter, what is wrong with you?" he whispered.

"I don't like being locked in, that's all. I have to get out of here." Harry's pulse was racing.

"Well calm down, panicking will not get us anywhere. What do you think is happening out there anyway?" Draco asked attempting to get the other boys mind off the locked door.

"Probably Volde-"

"You-know-Who, Please."

"Malfoy, I refuse to call that old skeleton that silly name. I will not give him my fear. He has no power over me."

"Yeah right, Potter. You just keep telling yourself that." he turned back to the door. "Now that you are calmed down a bit, let’s see about this door."

Both boys extended their wand hands to the door, not quite but almost touching it. Unconsciously mimicking the other, they both closed their eyes and focused on the magic at their fingertips. The wards were strong. The strongest Draco had felt within Hogwarts, these were not the normal wards Professor Snape put up around the lab.

Harry 'saw' the wards and 'felt' all around the room seeking its weakest point. It seemed here at the door was the weakest, that in itself was not really unusual considering most of the wards were to keep mis-made potions within the room, only a few where to keep people in or out. He concentrated his power into the rift he felt right in front of him. He poured magic, his own raw magic into the rift, but it gave very little.

For Draco the wards were not as unusual as they were for Harry. Yes Hogwarts might not have many wards like them but his own home had several that were in fact quite a bit stronger. First were the shields that kept potions mistakes in, second were the wards that kept others out, then the rather odd shield that kept the students in. Odd because it seemed to be feeding off of Harry's magic. Draco mentally smacked his own forehead, of course. Harry was attempting to blast his way through them, but these required a much more Slytherin approach.

He moved his left hand to hover just above Harry's right, letting just a trickle of power flow through the other boy. With his right hand he concentrated about three feet away from Harry's blast zone, first just letting his magic touch the shields, then very slowly almost insidiously he let more of his magic touch a larger and larger portion.

Harry noticed what Draco had found but in his panic had not thought to use the tactic the other boy had chosen, although he immediately saw the genius of it. He divided his power just a little bit, just enough to add his aura to the portion of the wards Draco was currently working on. Just as the color of the shield had changed enough to allow a man to walk through he stepped back.

The unexpected action brought their hands into contact; Draco was almost holding his hand. Where their hands met the blue of Harry's aura and the orange-red of Draco's aura mixed and somehow formed a very pale purple. The color quickly moved up from their hands to their elbows, stopping where they separated. Both boys stepped back but their hands still touched.

Their eyes met in confusion, but Harry's mind was still thinking about being locked inside the room. He quickly shook himself free and reached his hand through the now purple aura covering nearly all of the doorway.

Just as Harry stepped through to the door Draco looked back to the other students. The whole class seemed to be staring at him. Strangely enough still no one spoke. He cocked his eyebrow at them; he was a Malfoy after all. They required no explanations of his actions. He simply turned back to the door and followed after Harry Potter.

Chapter 5

Snape caught the boys as they fell through the door he threw open. To say he was surprised would be a slight understatement, although why he should be surprised after the previous meeting he didn't know. I ought to have known these two would be able to get through those wards. He pushed them back into the room and stalked to the front of the class.

"Class dismissed. Go directly to your common rooms and do not come out until dinner. Dumbledore's orders," he pause for less that a second before adding, "Well, what are you waiting for? Directly to your common rooms, anyone found wondering around will get 50 points deducted from your house."

He turned and summoned his recording globe, before snarling to the retreating class, "And if I find anything at all on this globe you will have detention with Filch for two weeks. Potter, Malfoy, a moment if you please."

Hermione and Ron threw Harry a curious look before they silently filed out with the other sixth year Gryffindors.

When the class was empty of all but the two rivals Snape sighed deeply and threw himself into his chair. "And what did the two of you think you were doing pulling down my wards like that? The Dark Lord could have been storming the castle. They were put there for a reason you know."

Harry flushed and stared at the floor, unable to meet his professor’s eyes. He cleared his throat before he spoke. "I didn't like being locked in, Sir."

Snape turned to Draco with a look of confusion apparent on his face. "And you felt the need to help? Why?"

Draco blushed a pretty pink before stuttering out his reply. "I don't know, he was panicking, it just seemed like the thing to do at the time." he grimaced at his flimsy excuse. Was it an excuse really? If it were the truth.

It had not escaped Snapes notice that in order for both boys to have gone through the shields but left them intact they would have had to work together. Well I guess if they had already passed the two tests that drew the Dark Riders attention they should be able to get past my wards. He sighed deeply; the rest of the night was not going to be pleasant. He jerked slightly when Draco spoke up with the question he had been dreading.

"Sir, what happened out there?"

Snape was rather surprised that it had been Draco to ask rather than Potter.

"That is for the Headmaster to explain. We will just wait a few more minutes to give the hallways a chance to clear out before we go see him."

"B-both of us, Sir?" Harry finally found his voice. Knowing that the door was not locked had finally settled his racing heart. Merlin will Uncle Vernon haunt me for the rest of my life? He found he was rather scared of his own answer.

"Yes, I'm afraid this concerns the both of you." Snape replied wearily.

Chapter 6

Professors rarely consumed alcohol on school grounds, but Dumbledore felt this was as good a reason as he was ever likely to have. Two of his students had been chosen by the Dark Riders. And why those two? They couldn't have been more dissimilar if they tried. His heart broke when he thought about the legends of how new Riders were chosen. If he remembered the legends correctly the first trial was pain, the second was Pain, and the third was PAIN. The Headmasters of all the Wizarding schools had gotten together several centuries ago and made a pact, if the Riders came for a student it was probably a good idea for the student to be trained by the Riders, after all it took a special kind of student to get the attention of the Riders. They were not chosen randomly. The young wizards were not even approached for training until they had passed the first two trials. That Harry Potter and Draco Malfoy had faced pain he had no doubt, but what was the distinction between pain and Pain?

Of the life of the Dark Riders of the Chimaeras no one knew anything. They were rarely seen and never spoken of. During the battle with Grindelwald there were rumours of Dark Rider activity but no one would confirm or deny such rumours. Although common legends say the riders are human, scholars know that the Dark Riders had come for veela, dwarf, and high elves equally through the years. How a dwarf could be a Rider when all Riders looked alike he had no idea.

Minerva sat before him staring into the fire, he could not read minds regardless of common thought but he could read her very well.

"Minerva, this might very well be a good thing. What ever has happened to make the Riders come for young Harry has probably changed the boy so that they are the only ones who could train him."

"But Albus, once they are gone, we will never see them again. No one has ever returned after the Riders take them." her voice was hushed, husky in its grief.

"True dear, but this is the Boy-Who-Lived when have you ever known him to follow the rules?"

Minerva nodded; trust Albus to find a light in such a dark situation. She turned and looked at her long time lover. Yes just as she suspected, the twinkle was back in his eyes. He either knew something and was not sharing or was planning something she knew she would not like.

"Tell me everything you know about the Chimaeras and their Riders, Albus. And then tell me exactly what you are planning."

"Planning? Nothing, not at all. I know few things about the Riders that you do not. But I can tell you that by all accounts they do not serve the Dark. The term Dark Riders is a misnomer, a deception used to cause fear. It has worked well for them in the past. All the rumours of them from the Grindelwald battle say that they fought for the Light." Dumbledore tugged on his beard as he lost himself in the memories of that unforgettable battle.

"Hmm, well I still do not wish to simply give our any of our children to them, not Malfoy, and not Harry Potter. I don't care that his father is a Death Eater, no child deserves to be given away like this. For all we know they will simply sacrifice them in some blood ritual. We simply do not know enough about them." She turned back to the fire.

Neither knew what to do, other than wait for the boys to arrive. The crackling of the fire and the ticking of the clock was the only sound as the couple lost themselves to their own worries.

Chapter Seven

By the time Severus arrived with the children Headmaster Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall had moved to their usual chairs. Dumbledore sat behind his desk, while McGonagall stood slightly behind and to the right.

"Come in. Come in. Please have a seat," the headmaster called out as Severus opened the door. The two boys walked in much slower than their potions professor, looking at each other in obvious discomfort.

"Well close the door behind you and sit down," Snape scowled down at them.

Obediently Draco and Harry crossed the room and sat in the two chairs facing the Headmaster. Snape stood behind them with his back to Dumbledore, but every one knew the scowl was still in place. You could hear it in his voice when he spoke.

"Albus, we should call Lucius and Black in on this. It is not a decision their teachers should make."

"Quite right, we shouldn't make it for them. And neither should their parents or guardians. In fact this is a decision that only They can make for themselves. All we can do is help them make the most informed choice based on what we know."

"Albus, you aren't going to allow this, are you?" Snape hissed as he swung his robes around dramatically.

Harry would have laughed if the situation had not been so serious. Harry knew form long hours of sitting quietly under his invisibility cloak in the Great Hall that Snape mostly used his robes for defense. When Snape was uncomfortable he pulled it in tight about himself, when he was pissed he snapped and flared them open almost constantly, when he was unsure and possibly afraid he swished them about, like he was doing now. Harry was becoming very unsettled himself, at the looks bouncing between his three professors. He caught Draco's eyes and quirked an eyebrow, Draco just shrugged his shoulders and turned back to the Headmaster.

"Severus, you know we have no choice in this matter. It was decided long ago that interference would help no one." Dumbledore sounded tired, but his voice still resounded with power.

"Fine, but what ever happens to these children will be on your head."

"It always is, Severus. From the moment they accept their Hogwarts letters."

"Ok, that's enough of that. I don't really appreciate being spoken of like I am not in the room, when in fact I am. Call it the Malfoy in me," Draco sneered as he stood. "When you are ready to talk to me, I'll be in my dorm." He only made it one step before Snape pushed him back down roughly.

"You will sit down and shut your mouth until I give you leave to go."

Harry cringed inwardly, it was never a good sign when Snapes voice went all calm and polite. He had been on the receiving end of it often enough to know that was when the professor was at his most scathing and brutal.

"Well get on with it then." Draco hated not knowing what was going on around him. Especially when it seemed that he was directly involved and he was just a little nervous about why both he and Harry bloody Potter where here.

The Headmaster cleared his throat then offered the boys a bowl of Gummy Bears. When they declined he sat back and tugged at his already frazzled looking beard.

"I assume that you have already figured out that Hogwarts had some visitors earlier today. Yes?" he waited for their nods before continuing, "Yes well, those visitors where very unexpected and the fact that they were here for the both of you was even more unexpected."

"What do you mean they were here for us? What did they want? Who were they?" Harry hated talking to Dumbledore sometimes. You almost never got the full story, and he almost never answered unasked question.

Dumbledore held up his hand to stave off any more questions. "Mr. Potter Please, I am trying!" he gave Harry a fond though exasperated look. "Have either of you heard of the legends of the Chimaera? Not the beast but the place?"

Harry turned to Draco with a confused look only to be met with the others confusion, they both looked back to the headmaster shaking their heads, no.

"Well then. Let me explain first. Not much is known about this land, no one even knows where it is. You must be invited there and those that go are rarely seen again. Now whether this is by choice or design, one cannot say. However those of the Chimaera that have been seen are very powerful wizards. We call them the Dark Riders. What I do know of the land is this. Crossing over into the land of the Chimaeras the first time changes you somehow, it is said that an adult cannot make the first crossing. A full grown wizard could not be changed as he is already reached his magical peak. So the first time you cross you must be an adolescent. There are a few trials you must go through in order to get the attention of the Riders in the first place. The trials are pain. Evidently the two of you have met the trials already."

Dumbledore paused to let this information sink in and take a sip of his brandy laced tea.

"P-pain? What do you mean, the trials are pain?" Harry asked.

"We don't know Mr. Potter? Why don't you tell us?" Snapes voice scraped across Harrys already frazzled nerves.

"If I knew I would not have asked." he retorted hotly.

Dumbledore cleared his throat. "Well, that is neither here nor there really. What we do need to decide is if either of you intend to go with them?"

"How could we decide something like that? We know nothing about them." Draco asked in a unusually subdued manner.

"Indeed." Snape glared at the Headmaster.

"Legends say that the land is made up from various species and creatures. While we call them the Dark Riders they have always fought on the side of the light. At least if you listen to rumours. We don't believe they are either light or dark really. But they rarely involve themselves in the outside world. All of the wizards that are seen or sent have been powerful. What worries me most though is the trials. Harry, Draco. Did anything happen to you this summer that you could call Pain? Mind that is with a capitol P. I am not referring to pain as in breaking an arm or even the Cruciatus Curse." the headmaster asked eyeing both boys with suspicion.

Draco looked to Harry first this time; there was no way he was going to tell about his summer in front of the Golden Boy of Gryffindor. But he did wonder what could have happened to the Boy Wonder. Finally he looked back to the headmaster.

"I don't believe that is any of your business. My summer is my own."

Harry was equally unwilling to answer but slightly nicer in his denial. "I really don't want to talk about it if that's OK."

"Yes, Yes quite understandable. We were just hoping to get some type of sign what the Riders look for. But at any rate, one of the Riders will be back tomorrow for your decisions. Going with them is by your choice alone. I highly suggest you think it over and talk about it amongst yourselves. I believe for the rest of the evening it would be best if you stayed away from the rest of the school lest you say anything about this. The Wizarding World as a whole need not know about it just yet."

Snape stood and walked to the door. "I suggest we sequester them in my chambers for the evening then Headmaster. I believe I can answer any questions they might have. And I can assure you, no one will bother them there."

"Yes Severus, I dare say you have the right of it!" Dumbledore said with a smile and a twinkle. No one would dare harass the Potions Master in his own chambers. "Very well then bring them up tomorrow just after breakfast. They will stay here until the Riders return."

Snape opened the door and motioned for the boys to follow him. They both stood and made their way silently after their professor, lost deeply into their own memories of Pain.

Chapter 8

Acheron paced before the council gathering his thoughts. He had been trying for an hour to make the council see his view. The human male thought it might be an uphill battle but this opposition was not expected.

"Albus Dumbledore's first priority is to those children. He should be informed."

Balthazar jumped to his feet in outrage. "You would jeopardize Chimaera for these two Chosen? Are you quite insane? There are others we could choose who have no ties to that world." It was unusual to see the Veela so inflamed.

"These two were chosen for a reason. As much as we need them, they need us more. And," Acheron cut his steely gaze over at Balthazar, "it would not be setting precedence. We informed Merlin of our existence and Gryffindor knew of us as well."

"They were both chosen and decided not to join us, that is why they were told." Balthazar rejoined still standing. He leaned over the semi-circle table and looked to all of the council members. "Dumbledore was never chosen. It would be setting precedence. We have never before revealed the extent of our world to the Wizarding World, or any other world." his words were heated. He had been on the council for a long many years and he knew his words held weight.

Bellerophon the leader of the lands of the Chimaera nodded his head but did not respond to the debate. He had made up his mind as soon as he had heard Acheron's reasoning. The younger man was right, Dumbledore was most dedicated to those under his care and he would never reveal anything about them or their world to outsiders, even under pain of death. But he let the younger men have their say in order to keep the peace among them. Balthazar especially needed to let his opinions be known to the council, if he was to be the next inline to assume the name Bellerophon then the others should know what he stood for.

Balthazar had always been rather snobbish in his views, and the mantel of leader that came with the name Bellerophon would abide no such nonsense. His childhood friend Mikal made a good Balthazar and second in command for the lands of Chimaera but if he could not bend the leadership would break him.

The banging of the judgment stone drew his attention, it was time for him to have his say and make the decision that would ultimately change their world.

"We inform Dumbledore, how and why we choose, but nothing more. Our world will not suffer for this knowledge. He will not be able to tell anyone else but will at least have the peace of mind of his charges, these two and any others we might find over the years. We will grant him extended life beyond a mere wizards span. He will be our contact into the war. And make no mistake it will be War." His voice was firm with an edge to it that brook no argument from any in the room.

"Bellerophon, I simply must protest. Never before has a thing like this been done. This Dumbledore was there during the Grindelwald uprising, yes he showed us his worth as a leader of men, but he was never chosen. He's never suffered for the..."

"That is enough Balthazar, not everyone must suffer for the knowledge. We did not leave that world only to make this one exclusive, but to make it safe. Not everyone who is worth knowledge must be Chimaera." It was an opinion Bellerophon had been trying to impress upon Balthazar since before he took the name title Bellerophon when they had been lads newly chosen.

"Bellerophon you can't seriously be considering bringing the man into the fold?" OakHeart, a wood nymph questioned.

"No of course not. I am merely saying that the man needs to be aware of how and why we choose new Riders. That is all. The man is already old even for a wizard, if we grant him an extended life, if we, say tie his life line to that of the school, then we have an ally for at least the extent of the War. He might not have known the pain that life brings to all Chimaera as a young boy and therefore was not chosen, but he has since known that pain. Though he was too old to make the crossing."

The entire council was swayed with his logic. It was true, they had all heard of the Great Wizard Albus Dumbledore, and knew him to be a good man.

Y'fanndies, a rather horse faced young goblin woman stood and addressed Acheron. "It is decided then. On the morrow, you will inform Albus Dumbledore of our writ, but you do this 'out' of the presence of the current chosen."

Acheron nodded his head in understanding then bowed low to the council and backed out of the circular room.

Chapter Nine

Snape scowled as he let the silent students into his private chambers. What had he been thinking to voluntarily allow students into his inner sanctum?

"Come on now do not dally about in the doorway.” He didn't even try to hide the scorn from his voice.

Draco looked about the lavishly decorated room in wonder. Who would have thought Snape of all people would have such a decadent room. The floors were covered with a thick dark blue carpet that felt almost too soft to walk upon and the walls were covered in rich vibrant tapestries. The depictions were of great battles and mythic beasts. For all the richness of the walls and floors what really had him gaping was the great overstuffed sofa taking up half the space in the middle of the room. A dark maroon velvet covered the great hulking almost bed like sofa, it looked like something you could curl up in and never want to move from.

Harry stood behind Draco with his mouth hanging open. Never in his young life had he seen splendour such as this. And to think it was in Snapes rooms. Who would have thought the greasy bastard had taste like this. He had thought they would be staying in a sparsely decorated dungeon. Something that no fire could ever warm.

The surprise of the room momentarily took the boys minds off their reason for being here. It was the clicking of the door lock that brought them out of there sensory trance. Draco wondered into the room a bit more and was quickly lost again in one of the battle scenes depicting a dark haired man slaying a dragon. Harry being slightly uncomfortable being locked away in Snapes chambers walked to the fireplace and muttered the spell to light the wood inside. The room might not need the extra warmth but it would give him something to stare at while trying not to think about that resounding click.

Snape sighed as he watched the boys avoid each other and thought it was probably a good thing. He cleared his throat as he walked further into the room unbuttoning his outer robes as he went.

"Well, do you have any questions you need to ask? Anything you want to discuss while making up your minds?” He asked as he sat on his favorite end of the sofa.

Draco turned with a snap of his robes that reminded Snape of himself at that age. "There really is nothing for me to think about.” He announced. "I'm going."

The only thing that showed Snapes surprise was the double blink of his eyes. "And why pray tell is that?"

"There is nothing here for me except to become a Death Eater, and more of the same treatment of this past summer. Dumbledore might not know a lot about these Dark Riders but he wouldn't have even let us know about them if they were evil. And he certainly would not risk loosing his golden boy if he thought we were in any danger from them.” Draco finished and crossed his arms across his chest defensively.

Harry turned as the blond began speaking, their eyes met for a moment acknowledging what Draco had said. He thought about what Draco said, the boy was right. There really was nothing here to keep him. Nothing he would learn in this school would help him defeat Voldemort any more than it had helped his father and countless other wizards that had gone against the Dark Lord. As he contemplated his stare shifted to the locked door, he could practically feel the walls closing in on him.

"That goes for me as well. There is nothing here at Hogwarts to keep me here. I've no family to speak of, and...” He drew a deep breath, and turned his back to the door. "No one would deny that I need the training.” 'What ever that training may be' He thought to himself.

"Well, I see you have it all figured out then.” Snape sneered. "You know nothing about these people and yet you are going to go off with them, trust them, with nothing more than a 'Nothing is keeping me here' attitude.”

Anger fuelled his jump from the sofa and he started pacing furiously. 'Damn whelps who did they think they were?' he growled inwardly.

'They are getting the chance of a lifetime. And you know it.'

'They are being stupid. They aren't even asking any questions.'

'And what answers would you give them? You know as much as they do, and don't tell me that if you were chosen you wouldn't jump at the chance.'

'Oh, shut up!'

'Hmmph!'

Draco stared at his pacing professor wondering what was going on in his mind. He could see there was some type of struggle going on; it wasn't often the man let so many emotions get through that mask of anger. He looked to Harry; he had seen the ebony headed boy staring at the door lock and wondered how he was fairing being locked in again. Why he cared he couldn't say but the Boy Wonder looked pale even in the fire light.

"Sir, since we have both decided to go and have no real questions. Can we now go and pack our belongings."

"No. The house elves will see to it later I'm sure.” Snape gritted out through his fury. Why he was so intensely angry he couldn't say but, why in the name of Mordred did these two get chosen. The taste of jealousy was foul indeed. He stopped cold in his tracks. Jealousy, yes he was jealous. Damn it, he could use the training for the fight. Had he not been through enough pain? Was he not a powerful wizard in his own right? Why then had he not been chosen? He was jealous of his students. They weren't stupid; they were jumping at a chance of a lifetime. How could he say he wouldn't do the same in their place? No, in a heartbeat he would trade places with them.

Harry tried to control his breathing, deep breath in, long breath out. Relax, breath, lather rinse repeat. It did no good. Finally when he could take it no more he walked to the door and put his forehead against it. He had made his decision to leave the school. Was it really necessary to listen to Snape anymore? If he was no longer a student. He could just walk out now, couldn't he? His hand was shaking as he reached for the doorknob.

Draco stood silent and watched the little drama unfold. It seemed Snape was lost in his own thoughts and didn't realize Harry was about to escape the colorful prison. The debate was short but intense. Did he help Harry escape or did he force him to stay? Well if they were to be together after this then it would be beneficial to help him now. Maybe they could be friends later, when they were away from the influence of the Wizarding world. He walked over the stand behind Harry just as the other boy reached for the doorknob.

He put his hand over Harry's and just held it for a moment before letting a touch of his magic join with Harry's just as before. They didn't speak a spell; they just let their combined magic force the door to unlock. Neither boy said a word as they pulled the door open; when their eyes met it was in mutual understanding. They really didn't want to be stuck in this room with Snape if this was to be their last night here at the school.

Snape stared into the fire, not even realizing as his young charges broke through his shields and left the dungeons. He wanted to leave all of this mess behind. Hadn't he done enough in the war effort? Given his life his very soul to Dumbledore as a spy. He had committed atrocities that he would dream about for the rest of his life in the name of the light. And yet these two slips of life got chosen to be taken away from it all. Chosen to learn magics he could only ever dream of. It was just another way to show him that what he had always believed still held true – the Snape line was cursed. He sat down in his spot with a sigh, completely forgetting Harry and Draco were supposed to be there as he wallowed in self pity.

tbc...

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